MMA WEEKLY - Financial Astrology commentary, Market timing, MMA Cycles, The Merriman Market Analyst

Raymond Merriman's video Forecasts for financial markets for 2010.

We are going to start taking orders for the Forecast 2011 book now via phone (1-248-626-3034), fax (1-248-538-5296), or email (ordersmma@msn.com). In a couple of weeks, you will be able to order directly from our website too. We are pleased to announce the price will remain the same as last year. That is :
- $55.00 if ordered after October 31,
- $45.00 if ordered before (plus postage).

We will also be offering special 10% discount rate for our subscription services to those who also pre-order Forecast 2011.
— This is a great deal, for in the words of one of our daily subscribers recently, " I don't know whether you want to hear/take any comments at all but I wanted to say that, so far, I am a very happy camper and the only thing which I think that I did wrong with subscribing to your service that I did it TOO LATE ! What was I thinking...? :-)" - R. Rood, Lugano, Switzerland, futures trader and technical analyst, former cash grain trader. For a review of the forecasts from the Forecast 2010 book, please follow that link. And now we have a special first-time opportunity being developed. This year's Forecast Book will be available in electronic book format. The details are still being worked out, but we expect to have this format available this year, also around December 15.

The Forecast 2011 Book can be pre-ordered in several languages, at attractive pre-publication rates, through the following MMA publishers, which also publish our free weekly columns in their respective languages :

- Chinese Dutch Deutsch Japanese Russian Spanish

Note : Only one more week left before the special pre-publication offer ends for the Forecast 2011 book. For an updated review on the highlights of the Forecast 2010 Book as of October 15, visit :
http://www.mmacycles.com/the-news/about-mma/scorecard-for-forecasts-2010. It's even more impressive than first thought.

The Market Week in Review :

In prior columns, we have alerted readers of the importance of Mars-in-Scorpio to a strong move up and important crest in the Gold and Silver markets. Our time for a crest was identified in various reports as ideally occurring October 4-26. The midpoint was October 15. As we look back over the past few months, we can see that Gold and Silver formed important lows right in the midsection of the Cardinal Climax on July 28, around 1155 and 1735 respectively in price. Both metals then started impressive rallies, which really took off after Mars went into Scorpio in mid-September. And now we can see that they did indeed culminate in an important crest on October 14, just one day before the midpoint of the time band that was identified via the tools of Financial Astrology. On that day, Gold touched 1388 and Silver 2495. In the past week, they have now embarked upon their sharpest decline since the bottom in late July, with Gold having traded to 1315 and Silver to 2284 as of Friday, October 22, day of the full moon.

This reversal could also relate to Venus retrograde, which occurred on Friday, October 8. The high of October 14 was only 4 trading days later, which is not unusual for a "spill over," especially since it coordinated with the mid-point of the Mars-in-Scorpio time band for a crest. Venus continues retrograde through November 18, and there are several historical instances of financial markets making a cycle high (or low) around the time of the retrograde date and then commencing a counter-trend move that lasted until nearby to the direct date. This behavior can also be observed in several past instances of Mars retrograde.

In equity markets, we note that the bull market was briefly interrupted on Tuesday-Wednesday last week, as Mars entered an important degree of Scorpio that made hard aspects to the chart of the NYSE. Sure enough, on Tuesday the DJIA suffered its largest one-day decline in several weeks. However it recovered the very next day, and in fact has now soared to test its yearly high, which was 11,258 on April 26, the day of a Saturn-Uranus opposition. As discussed last week, however, the stock markets of the world are in a lift-off mode now that Saturn is out of the picture for awhile to the planets of the Cardinal Climax (Jupiter, Uranus, and Pluto).

It's all about Jupiter and Uranus in conjunction, in Jupiter's ruling sign of Pisces. It is the "Asset Inflation Express," as one country after another tries to devalue its currency in the hope of gaining a competitive advantage in the world trade market. It's a stupid competition, one that will likely lead to undesirable consequences, such as trade wars and currency distortions. But then again, as my musician friend Jotown (www.jotown.com) sings, "Nothing Could be Stupider than to Fall in Love with Jupiter". We live in competitive times and will for the next 8 years as Uranus moves into Aries. Jupiter was with Uranus when the ill-advised idea originated a few weeks ago, and it will be with Uranus again in Aries for the first half of next year. By itself, it strongly suggests wild price fluctuations in many financial markets. But initially, it will be strongly up for equity markets, as outlined in last year's Forecast 2010 book. It is underway now. I am not sure anything will stop it until it has gone out of control. That's the nature of Jupiter (excess) and Uranus (over-excitement and risk). We will see signs of this as Mars moves into Sagittarius now, for Sagittarius is the sign over which Jupiter also has rulership.

Short-Term Geocosmics :

Mars leaves Libra for Scorpio this Saturday, one day after the full moon in the last degree of Aries-Libra. Mars will leave Scorpio for a six-week journey through Sagittarius. There are no major planetary stations or aspects in the heavens until Neptune turns direct on November 7. And that may be mild until both Venus and Jupiter turn direct on November 18. It is as if everything is put on hold until the aftermath of the November 2 election in the USA.

But Mars in Sagittarius can hardly be considered "mild". This is a wild, untamed horse, waiting to break loose and trample over anything in its path. Or, think of it as freight train going at full speed. It can't and won't stop. It is the "Asset Inflation Express," and there are no stops to make for awhile. Not even the election. Putting decisions on hold won't stop the flow of money into stocks and other assets. And it won't stop aggressors from plotting their next military or terrorist activity. After all, Mars in Sagittarius and Capricorn are the seasons when tensions erupt in the Middle East, and Israel is usually in state of heightened danger. Watch Crude Oil.

Long-Term Thoughts :

Let's have a little educational talk about Venus retrograde in Scorpio, it is in its detriment, not fall, even though they mean basically the same principle, i.e. debilitated somewhat, according to the traditionalists. On top of that, this Venus retrograde in Scorpio has been traveling with Mars, which rules Scorpio, and with Venus there too, it presents a rather seductive and sensual combination. But at the risk of any politically incorrect "gendering" talk, I am going to refer to Venus and its ruling signs as "she," and Mars and its ruling signs as "he", even though it is understood in astrology that each one of us has male and female aspects within our personas.

These two planets, and the sign of Scorpio, rule opposite ends of the money spectrum : wealth and debt. In the same way, Mars and Venus, along with Scorpio, rule both ends of the spectrum of love and sexuality. Mars and Scorpio are said to represent passion, and Venus in Scorpio is akin to lust. Is it not also interesting that Venus, which rules wealth, also rules the quest for love ?. It is the planet, nay goddess, of beauty and form. Her symbol is the lady of justice holding the scales of balance. But Venus in Scorpio, as any lady of beauty, can also be quite the seductress, especially when coupled with her passionate lover in the form of Mars, god of war.

What does this have to do with finances, one might ask ? It has everything to do with it on a symbolic scale, which is the language of astrology. Venus, as ruler of Taurus, seeks a world of beauty and stability, which requires a sense of financial and psychological security built on a solid foundation of values. As ruler of Libra, she has a fundamental need for partnering. Libra always thinks in terms of "we". Mars, however, more often thinks in terms of "me," as in "I want it, and I want it now".

Venus says, "Let's agree on something that is beautiful and of mutual value". Mars in Scorpio says, "Let's get what we want - and don't worry about the cost. We can handle debt". Venus, however, wants the debt offset by credit. Venus, with her connection to Taurus, wants the ledger heavily weighted on the side of credit. Scorpio doesn't, because Scorpio also wants power... the feeling of strength he gets from the raw power of conquering. And to dominate the enemy, he is willing to borrow heavily, because in the end, he knows that if he wins, the "debt" will have been a very good investment. Besides, he knows that power is an aphrodisiac to Venus. But it is a gamble, because if any sign and planet flirt closely with debt and default, it is Scorpio and its co-rulers Pluto and Mars. And yes, they are associated with taxes too, especially if Saturn or Capricorn (the government) are in the picture, which in fact they are. Pluto is in Capricorn from 2008-2023 and we just ended a year of Saturn in waning square aspect to Pluto.

In other words, Venus and Mars in Scorpio, with Pluto in Capricorn having just ended a year-long square to Pluto, indicates that we are at a critical juncture as to whether we go one way or the other (Venus and Taurus, or Mars and Scorpio). Will we choose stability and security as Venus wishes, or will she fail to subdue her man's ambitions for power and conquering ? If Mars wins, he brings a huge increase in debt, which he has convinced himself is a solid investment. Yet in reality, it actually brings default, and his currency turns to mush. What's more, he loses his woman (i.e. support system and security).

There is a moral to this story of Venus and Mars in Scorpio - the signs of values and devaluations respectively. Especially with Venus retrograde, there is an urge to return to a time of traditional values and sensibilities with monies. This is definitely a force that is growing today - to get back to a balanced budget, and a much more disciplined approach to national (and personal) finances. You can see it in the polls.

But that Mars. Sometimes he is just so stubborn and bullheaded (in Scorpio especially) that nothing can tame his urge to conquer. And for that, he needs money. So he takes on the debt. My guess ? He misjudges and loses the woman because he took on too much debt before he could complete the turnaround. She's gone retrograde. She is parting from him. He won ; but he lost.

But what does Venus do now ? She returns to her ruling sign of Libra, where she regains her strength and reconfirms her values and personal beauty. That is, from November 8-December 7, she is back in her home of Libra - which is more like a spa. She starts on her quest for love and security again, as she turns direct in Libra (square the USA Pluto) on November 8. She is stronger and more attractive now (i.e. has more support), whereas Mars moves from Scorpio to Sagittarius, October 28-December 7. Do you think he will stop his spending just because he lost his woman (support) ? No. To the contrary, he spends more and becomes even more determined in his quest to dominate, for when he travels through the realms of Sagittarius and Capricorn (October 28-January 15), he becomes more aggressive, more combative, and more prone to the very wars he needed the money in which to fight.

Venus, however, is not done. She is never done with her quest for love and security. She will meet her lover once more, but next time on her turf in Taurus in late May, in springtime, when she has the power. In other words, between now and then, the liberals and the conservatives, the hawks and the doves, will pursue opposite agendas with regard to national finances, regardless of the verdict of the people through the electoral process. They may finally find the grounds to agree on something in the spring, when Venus meets Mars again in Taurus, this time in her (other) sign, and his fall.

To be continued... (next week)

Announcements :

One weeks remaining to reserve a copy of the Forecast 2011 book at the special pre-publication price of $45.00 (plus postage)! After that, the price will increase to its publicized rate of $55.00. Our once-a-year special this year includes a 10% discount rate for any subscription service to those who pre-order Forecast 2011 is also in effect until October 31. This is a great deal, and it won't be offered in next year's package, when we expect to instead to publish of "The Ultimate Book on Stock Market Timing, Volume 5: Price Projections".

We have just uploaded one of the chapters from the Forecast 2010 Book on the importance of Jupiter and Uranus together in the Cardinal Climax. It is very pertinent to what is happening today. Click
http://www.mmacycles.com/articles/articles/jupiter-entering-the-cardinal-climax for a free viewing of this article.

Also, we are excited to announce that the Forecast 2011 Book will be available in electronic format on Amazon Kindle, Apple Iphone4, and the IPad! The cost will be $45.00, and of course NO SHIPPING FEES ! The only difference is that the electronic version will not have the ephemeris and calendar that is the back part of the printed copy of Forecast 2011. But all the chapters and all the financial markets will be covered, exactly as in the printed version. You will have to order the electronic version directly from Apple when the book is completed. We will let you know when that point is achieved, which we think we will be around December 10. At that time, we will also give links to Apple or Amazon.com where you can place the order for the electronic version.

If you are an active short-term trader, you may be interested in our Weekly or even Daily Market reports with short-term trading recommendations. It is the only way I keep in touch with traders on a daily or even weekly basis. These reports give in-depth analysis of the DJIA, S&P and NASDAQ futures, Euro currency (cash and futures), Swiss Franc, Dollar/Yen cash and Yen futures, T-Notes, Corn, Soybeans, Wheat, Gold and Silver. The daily reports cover all stock indices listed above, as well as futures in Euro, T-Notes, Soybeans, Gold and Silver. Subscription to the daily report also includes the weekly report. For more information, or call our offices at 1-248-626-3034. In the words of one of our subscribers : " I recently subscribed to your weekly report and am finding it to be excellent and a very useful companion to the MMA Cycles Report. I can't imagine now managing my investments without them".

CD's DVD's, MP3's, and "On-Line Streaming Video" of the July 11 webcast are now available !!! Each of these various ways to see the event can now be ordered via our website at www.mmacycles.com (just click the opening banner), or by calling 1-248-3034 or email operations at ordersmma@msn.com. The cost of each is $45.00, plus postage if necessary. This webcast covered our outlook for stocks, precious metals, interest rates and Treasuries, foreign currencies vis-à-vis the U.S. Dollar, and Grains. We pick this time because it is right before the astrological midpoint of the Cardinal Climax, which takes place late July through early August. It may be the peak of the huge trend reversals expected in many of these markets, aided and abetted by major changes of trend in geopolitical matters. You won't want to miss this presentation. Order now, because most of the trading opportunities presented are in effect from July 21 through October 8, 2010 !!!.

January 14-16, 2011, Zurich, Switzerland. "Forecasts 2011" symposia featuring top mundane and financial astrologers, plus one day workshop on Financial Market Timing. For more details, go to www.astrodata.ch.

March 10-12, 2011 : Mexico City, Mexico. Speech on Forecasts 2011, and workshop on "Evolutionary Astrology : The Journey of the Soul Through States of Consciousness". For information, please contact acuario888@gmail.com.

April 28 and 30, 2011 : Kansas City, Mo. "Forecasts for 2011" and "Financial Astrology Workshop" with Raymond Merriman. Sponsored by AOA. Details soon.

The MMA Catalogue of products and services for 2013 is now out!!! You can download it in PDF. The ordering page is the last page of the catalogue. This is especially useful for those outside of the USA, since we do not mail these out by mail unless requested.

We are pleased to announce that the Spanish publication of "Basic Principles of Geocosmic Studies for Financial Market Timing" has just been completed. This first edition in Spanish will be in print in 10 days. For more information and ordering, please contact www.lecochonsideral.info/PubliMERRI/Espagnol/Annee2012/semana.html.

We also have our new CD available : "The Cardinal Climax 2008-2015 : Investment Opportunities and Dangers". This 75-minute CD outlines the most powerful geocosmic configuration of our lifetime : The Cardinal Climax of 2008-2015. This presentation examines the historical, long-term geocosmic signatures that are present 2008-2015, how they correlated to economic crises in the past, and how they will likely impact various financial markets and investment opportunities this time. In fact, many of the themes are already underway. Approximately 75 minutes, with PDF file of charts used: $25.00 plus postage.

I am oftentimes asked for recommendations of a money manager who uses my methods, since I won't manage other people's money. The thing is, almost all money managers I know use their own systems. But many subscribe to my services and share my thoughts about the future of the economy, various financial markets, and how to position one's portfolio along these lines. One money manager who subscribes to our services that I would suggest for those looking to structure a longer-term portfolio, such as a retirement account, is Duke O'Neill of Boulder, Colorado. He can be reached at dukeoneil1@gmail.com, or 1-(303) 545-5837. For those looking for a professional trader of commodity and futures contract might consider Ted Lee Fisher at ted.fisher@comcast.net. Ted is a legend in financial futures and has a seat on the CME. Both are very knowledgeable of the tools I use, of the way I am looking at markets, and yet each makes their own decisions as to exactly when to enter and exit any market. They will be more than happy to assist you.

To the above list, I would also like to recommend long-term MMA subscriber Erwin Brunner of Zurich, Switzerland. Mr. Brunner is the founder of BrunnerInvest AG. One of his five funds was awarded the "Best in-house fund of funds" in the world recently. Mr. Brunner is a former director of the Swiss Banking Corporation (today it is known as UBS), and a general director of Rothschild Bank in Zurich. As an independent wealth manager for high net worth individuals and institutional clients only, he places his clients into the funds of the best performing fund managers in the world, via his own research and experience. For high net worth readers interested in Mr. Brunner's funds, please contact him through www.brunnerinvest.ch.

The newly revised The Sun, The Moon, and Silver Book : Secrets of a Silver Trader, is now out. This is a book that you will use as a reference guide for...many, many years. It identifies all the key Sun-Moon combinations that have a higher (and lower) than expected probability of correlating with 4% or greater reversals in COMEX Silver. It also identifies "Big Range Days" - those days in which the range of Silver is most likely to be 3.5% or more of the price of Silver, which is a great tool for day traders. This book fulfills the dream of all traders: high probability winning trade possibilities, with minimal market exposure. It is that "extra edge." And Silver is a great market to trade now. The cost is $125.00. For ordering on line.

Disclaimer and statement of purpose : The purpose of this column is not to predict the future movement of various financial markets. However, that is the purpose of the MMA (Merriman Market Analyst) subscription services. This column is not a subscription service. It is a free service, except in those cases where a fee may be assessed to cover the cost of translating this column from English into a non-English language. This weekly report is written with the intent to educate the reader on the relationship between astrological factors and collective human activities as they are happening. In this regard, this report will oftentimes report what happened in various stock and financial markets throughout the world in the past week, and discuss that movement in light of the geocosmic signatures that were in effect. It will then identify the geocosmic factors that will be in effect in the next week, or even month, or even years, and the author’s understanding of how these signatures will likely affect human activity in the times to come. The author (Merriman) will do this from a perspective of a cycle’s analyst looking at the military, political, economic, and even financial markets of the world. It is possible that some forecasts will be made based on these factors. However, the primary goal is to both educate and alert the reader as to the psychological climate we are in, from an astrological perspective. The hope is that it will help the reader understand these psychological dynamics that underlie (or coincide with) the news events and hence financial markets of the day.

No guarantee as to the accuracy of this report is being made here. Any decisions in financial markets are solely the responsibility of the reader, and neither the author nor the publishers assume any responsibility at all for those individual decisions. Reader should understand that futures and options trading are considered high risk.

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September 1-8, 2011: Bali! "Financial Astrology" Intensive workshop with Raymond Merriman, and "Mundane Astrology" with Claude Weiss. For more information on this unique week-long intensive and incredible South Pacific paradise adventure.